Environmental health officers from Rushmoor Borough Council inspected the buffet-style restaurant on August 16 last year and discovered a series of food safety issues.

This resulted in the restaurant being closed for five days and being given a rating of 0, the lowest possible, indicating that "urgent improvement" was necessary.

Magistrates heard evidence from the inspection of poor food hygiene practices that could have resulted in food poisoning to customers, including a lack of effective cleaning and disinfection, a risk of cross-contamination through equipment being used for both raw food and ready-to-eat food, and by a failure to maintain the premises in good repair and condition.

A shallow frying pan caked in carbonised black and yellowed grease not cleaned for a considerable time, full of oil and awaiting use (Image: RBC)

Environmental health officers found mouldy and dirty mastic seals and peeling paint on the window sills, as well as dirty food equipment covered in mould.

These problems, coupled with a lack of completed food safety paperwork and inadequate staff training, meant the premises fell well below the legal standards required and represented an imminent risk to health according to inspectors.

Ozone PVT Ltd were fined a total of £3000, and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £2471 and a £150 victim surcharge.

White blooms of mould evident on the internal shelf of the blast chiller, alleged to be in use the day before (Image: RBC)

Following a re-rating inspection in December 2017, the restaurant is now rated as a “4” – “Good”, under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

The restaurant's manager who did not wish to be named said practices had changed since their inspection last year.

The underside of the cooking range which was covered in a thick layer of congealed grease, which would have built up over months (Image: RBC)

Councillor Maurice Sheehan, Rushmoor Borough Council’s cabinet member for operational services, said: “Food businesses have a legal duty to residents to ensure the conditions and practices in their premises meet the required food hygiene standards.

"While we will continue to support every food business, I hope this prosecution sends out a strong message that food businesses which fall short of this standard will be brought before the courts.”